Wire reel



My 7, 1940- J. E. wHlTAKER 2,199,901

A TTORNEYS.

May 7,` 1940.

.1. E. WHITAKER WIRE REEL Filed Dec. 21, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNEYS.

Talented May 7, 1940 sTATEs PATENT ce1-*ice i `wlmi REEL v l John EdwardWhitaker, West Monroe, La. Application December 21, 193s, serial No.247,090

' 's claims. (o1. 242-94) tended arms of the bell crank levers tend to.swing 'n y"Ihe device forming the subject matter of this application isa reel forfc'arrying wire. One object of the invention is to improve theconstruction of the body of the reel,`another object of the invention isto v:Improve the construction` of the spool of the reel, and anotherobject of theinvention is to improve the cover for the spool, so thatthese partsv may cooperate properly, in use. A further object of-the'invention is to provide novel means for applying-braking pressureto the spool', re1easably,and under the control of the wire which isbeing drawn off the spool. K'

It is within'the province of the disclosure to improve generally and toenhance the utility of devices of that type to which the presentinvention appertains. y

With vthe above and other objects in viewywhich will appearas' thedescription proceeds, the invention residesin the combinationandarrangement of'parts `and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, ity beingunderstoo'd that changes in thel precise`embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within thevscope of what is claimed, without departing frorn'the spirit of theinvention."

In the drawings:` Fig. 1 shows, intop plan, avreel constructed inaccordance with the invention, partsy beingv broken away; f

Fig. 2 is an elevation; Fig; 3 is a section on the line 343 of Fig. l'Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-I,of` Fig. 'l Fig. 5 is a section onthe line 5-'5 of Figf 3" Fig; 6 isa section yonthe line 6 6 of Fig. 1Fig. '7 is a section on the line 1-1 of Fig. 1. The'device forming thesubject matter of this application preferably is made of metal throughpout. Angle iron construction can'be used whereever desired.v l

The device forming the subject matterv of this application comprises abody I. Thebody I includes a bottom ring v2 and atop ring 3.1*The bottomring'2 and the top'ring`3 are connected by posts 4, preferably locatedabout 90 degrees l apart. y Spokes 5 extend inwardly vfrom the lowerends of the posts 4 and are secured to the bottom ring2. Where thespokes 5 intersect, at the axis of the body I, they are secured'to afoot 6'on the'xlowe'r f end of a hollow spindleA 1. An anti-frictionbearing 8 surrounds the lower end of'lthe spindle 1 and is supportedonthey foot 6. Brackets 9 `are secured to the outer portions'of the spokes"5. Rollers I are journaled on the brackets 9ff'or rotation about axes'at vright angles tothe axis t,

of the spindle 1.' Guards, in the form lof teuf crank levers II, arefulcrumed at I2 on thevposts 4. The inwardly extended arms of the bellcrank levers I I are heavier than the upwardly extended arms thereof,and, therefore, the upwardly exinWardIy.

The numeral I4 marks a brake, extended' circumferentially of the body I.'Ihe brake :I4 includes an end bar I5. The end bar I isconnected byhinges II;` to one of the posts 4 of the body I. The hinges I6 have acommon hinge pin, aboutwhich is disposed a coiled spring I1. The coiledspring I1 engages the aforesaid post 4 and the end bar I5 of the brakeI4, and tends to swing the brake inwardly. Any supplementing means (notshown) may be employed for swinging the brake I4 inwardly.

The brake I4 includes a U-shaped frame I8 seicured to the end bar I5. Acarrier plate I9 is attached to the upper and lower members of the frameI8, and is disposed near the end bar I5.

A brake shoe is secured at 2l to the inner surface of the carrier plateI9. Guides 22 are secured to the carrier plate I9 and to the upper andlower members of the frame I8. A latch bar 23 1s mountedforreciprocation in the guides 22, in contact with one edge of the carrier-plate I9. Lateral fingers 24 on the latch bar 23 limit its longitudinalmovement in the guides'22. 'I'he latch bar 23 is held by gravity in itslower position. A stop strip 25 is fixed on the upper and lower membersof the frame I8. The stop strip 25 has an linwardly offset upper end 26.A transverse roller 21 is mounted on the upper and lower members of theframe I8 for rotation, and is disposed nearto the free end of the brakeI4.

A longitudinal, outwardly inclined roller 28 is mounted to turn 0n theframe I8, at'the free end of the frame. The roller 28 extends into closerelation to the roller 21, but the rotation vof neither roller isimpeded by the presence' of the other roller.

The device includes a spool 29. The spool 29 embodies a ring 30. Spokes3I extend inwardly from the ring 30 and are secured to a tubular hub 32.The hub 32 is mounted to turn on the spindle 1 of the' body I. The hub32 has an' outwardly extended, depending skirt 33.. The skirt 33 `restson the anti-friction bearing Bof the body I and extends about thebearing. The bearspool 29. f

The ring 30 of the spool 29 isI supported on the rollers I 0 of thelbody I, in the space dened by the posts 4. The upright arms of the bellcrank levers II press against the ring 30 of the spool' 29. The functionof the bell crank levers or guards II is to'p'revent the wire on thespool v ing 8, obviously, facilitates the rotation of the `29 fromgetting beyond the edge of the ring 30,

function of the stop strip 25 is to limit the outward swinging movementof the brake I4 after the latch bar 23 has been raised from the positionof Fig. 6 enough so that the lower end of the latch bar can clear thering` 2. The shoe 29 of the brake I4 bears against the ring 3U of thespool 29. The lower end of the latch bar 23 normally is disposed insidethe bottom ring 2 v,of the body I. latch bar 23, swing the brake I4outwardly on its hinges I6, and push down the latch bar 2-3 until it isoutside the bottom ring 2 of the body I. In this way, the brake shoe isheld-out of contact with the ring 3D of the spool 29, and the spool canturn freely.

- Standards 34 are `disposedab'ove the spokes 3l of the spool 29 andform a core about which wire may be wound. The standards .34 haveinwardly extended feet 35 held by yokes 35 on the spokes 3l, it beingpossible to shift .the standards 34 in and out, to accommodate coils ofwire of different diameters and to centralize `the coil with respect toa vertical axis represented -by'the spindle 'I of the body I. After thestandards 34 yhave been adjusted vin or out, they `can be held inadjusted positions, by means of a'holdingde'- vice, such as a set screw33, adapted to engage one of the spokes 3l, the'set screw being threadedinto the yoke 36, .and into a nut '3l secured in `the yoke. All of thestandards 34 `can be adjusted in and out, in the manner specified.

A socket 39 of tubular form, is secured to one ofthe standards 34, andis adapted to receive a removable handle (not shown) ywhereby the spool29 can be turned readily. In order to hold down the wire about thestandards` 34 of the spool 29, there is provided a cover 4B, including aring 4I connected by spokes 42 to a tubular hub 43, adapted to rest atvits 'lower end on the spokes 3l of the spool 29. Thehub 43 slides onthe hub 32 of thespool V29 andis heavy enough so that it can follow thewire down, as the wire is taken oi the spool, the coil of wire beingheld against jumping upwardly, out of place.

Although Fig. 1 is a top plan, it may be considered, at this place, as asideelevation. If the operator wishes to roll the device along thefloor, in the position of Fig. 1, this can be donewithout injury to theroller 28 or the -hinges I6, because the rings 2 and 3 of the body I aresupplied with outwardly conveXed tracks, connected to the said rings, onopposite sides of the roller29 'and the hinges I6, the tracks beingdesignated by the numeral 50.

1f desired, an annular cap 5I may be placed about the spindle l, at theupper end of the spool hub 32, the cap 5I being kheld in place;detachably, by a cotter pin 52, or otherwise.

The wire is led off the spool 29, between the roller 21 and the end Abar-of the frame I8, and over the -top of the roller 28. When the wire ispulled upon, to remove it from the spool 29, the brake I4 is swungoutwardly on the hinges I 6, the brake shoe 20 no longer has contactwith the ring 30 of the reel 29, and the reel can turn freely; but assoon as the wire is slacked away, the spring I7 swings the brake I4inwardly, and the shoe 29 comes into contact ywith the ring 39 of thespool 29, as shown in`Fig. l. If the brake I4 were permitted to swingtoo far outwardly, for example and inan extreme instance, until itoccupies a position at right angles to the one shown in Fig. 1, the wirewould .be kbent sharply It is possible, however, to raise the across theparts adjacent to the hinged end of the brake and would not pay outfreely. The

function of the stop bar thus is made mani-l e fest. The device islsimple and inexpensive in construction, but will be lfound thoroughlyadvantageous and 'practical for Athe Vends in View. Having thusdescribed the invention, what is claimed is: f

`1. In a device of the class described, a body,'

a wire receiving spool journaled in the body, a brake hinged'tothe body,spring means for actuating the brake to cause it to engage the spool,"

and a latch movable on the brake, the latch` cooperating with the body,to hold the brake tout of engagement with the spool.

a wire receiving spool journaled in the body, a brake hinged to thebody, spring means for actuating the brake to cause rit to engage .thespool,-

. 15 2. In a device of they classlidescribed,` a body,

3. In a device Aof the class described,` a body, ,v a wire receivingspool journaled inthe body forrotation about a vertical axis,andzbell-crank guards pivotally mounted on the body and includinguprightarms engaging the periphery yof the spool,

to prevent 'the wire on the spool froniimoving downwardly about theperiphery of the spool,

the guards comprising'inwardly-extended .arms

prolonged below the spool and constituting means for maintaining .theupright arms lengaged with'thev spool.

4. In a device for .carrying wire, abody'fhavingl I.

an 'upright spindle, .a spool`.comprising a core about which wire may bewound, the spool being provided with a tubular hub journaled .onthespindle and dis-posed centrally with .respect to the core, and a spoolcover surrounding the core, the cover having a hub `mounted.removably onthe hub of the spool, and vertically slidable thereon to permit thecover to :restion .the wire wound about `the core and to vfollow .thewire'down, as the Wire `is unwound from the'core.

v5. Ina deviceof the class Idescribed, anap- 1 proXimately-circularbody, a wire receiving .spool journaled on the body, abrake, a hingeconnect-` ing the brake with the body,'means for causing y the brake toeng-age the. spool, .an outstanding member on the brake, valong whichthe wire passes as it is drawn from the spool, andan outwardly conveXedtrack secured yto thebody .on opposite sides of the hinge and saidmember, and extended outwardly-therebeyond, vwhereby when the body isrolled on itsperiphery, said member will be protected.

6. In a device` for carrying wire, a body, .la spool journaled on thebody, a brake hingedfat one end to the body, means for causing the braket0 engage the spool, -a rst roller disposed transversely of the brakeand' journaled thereonad jacent to the opposite'end fof the fbrake, andasecond roller disposed longitudinally .of the brake and supported' forrotation onY said opposite end of the brake, `the second rollerslantingroutwardly with respect to the 'brake and the rst .roller andoverlapping `the first. roller, infclose rela-- "tion thereto, therollers JOHN EDWARD v'wHI'ra/iKER.

the Vhinge and

